"Him!I never knew Him,if indeed He be.No,no,there is no after-life."Ursula turned away in horror."John,what shall we do with her?No home!--no husband!--no God!""He never leaves Himself without a witness.Look,love."The wretched woman sat rocking to and fro--weeping and wringing her hands."It was cruel--cruel!You should not have spoken about my baby.Now--""Tell me--just one word--I will not believe anybody's word except your own.Caroline,are you--still innocent?"Lady Caroline shrank from her touch."Don't hold me so.You may have one standard of virtue,I another.""Still,tell me."
"And if I did,you,an 'honourable English matron'--was not that your husband's word?--would turn from me,most likely.""She will not,"John said."She has been happy,and you most miserable.""Oh,most miserable."
That bitter groan went to both their hearts,Ursula leaned over her--herself almost in tears."Cousin Caroline,John says true--I will not turn from you.I know you have been sinned against--cruelly--cruelly.Only tell me that you yourself have not sinned.""I HAVE 'sinned,'as you call it."
Ursula started--drew closer to her husband.Neither spoke.
"Mrs.Halifax,why don't you take away your hand?""I?--let me think.This is terrible.Oh,John!"Again Lady Caroline said,in her sharp,bold tone,"Take away your hand.""Husband,shall I?"
"No."
For some minutes they stood together,both silent,with this poor woman.I call her "poor,"as did they,knowing,that if a sufferer needs pity,how tenfold more does a sinner!
John spoke first."Cousin Caroline."She lifted up her head in amazement."We are your cousins,and we wish to be your friends,my wife and I.Will you listen to us?"She sobbed still,but less violently.
"Only,first--you must promise to renounce for ever guilt and disgrace.""I feel it none.He is an honourable gentleman--he loves me,and Ilove him.That is the true marriage.No,I will make you no such promise.Let me go.""Pardon me--not yet.I cannot suffer my wife's kinswoman to elope from my own house,without trying to prevent it.""Prevent!--sir!--Mr.Halifax!You forget who you are,and who I am--the daughter of the Earl of Luxmore."
"Were you the King's daughter it would make no difference.I will save you in spite of yourself,if I can.I have already spoken to Mr.Vermilye,and he has gone away.""Gone away!the only living soul that loves me.Gone away!I must follow him--quick--quick.""You cannot.He is miles distant by this time.He is afraid lest this story should come out to-morrow at Kingswell;and to be an M.P.and safe from arrest is better to Mr.Vermilye than even yourself,Lady Caroline."John's wife,unaccustomed to hear him take that cool,worldly,half-sarcastic tone,turned to him somewhat reproachfully;but he judged best.For the moment,this tone had more weight with the woman of the world than any homilies.She began to be afraid of Mr.Halifax.
Impulse,rather than resolution,guided her,and even these impulses were feeble and easily governed.She sat down again,muttering:
"My will is free.You cannot control me."
"Only so far as my conscience justifies me in preventing a crime.""A crime?"